Munich. Hallmark MINI driving fun combined with zero
tailpipe emissions. With the introduction of the first plug-in hybrid
model by the British premium brand, this will soon be a reality. The
series development process for this car has almost been completed. It
features a combustion engine and an electric motor enabling purely
electric propulsion for the first time in a MINI (combined power
consumption: 2.3 – 2.1 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions:
52 – 49 g/km). This marks the beginning of a new phase for MINI, and
offers a glimpse into a future that is charged with excitement for
MINI customers and those drivers yet to experience the thrill of a hybrid.

Head of MINI brand management Sebastian Mackensen and Head of
MINI series management Peter Wolf offer insight into this new
near-series test vehicle, and explain how it retains go-kart feeling
in the true spirit of a MINI during a test drive of this model.

“With this model we want to convince MINI customers of the
benefits of hybrid drive”, says Mackensen, “and impress everyone who
already has hybrid driving experience with MINI’s unique go-kart
driving feel.” The key to achieving this lies in intelligent energy
management which is used to control how the combustion engine and
electric motor operate together. For this reason, the first MINI
plug-in hybrid model is not solely focused on efficiency, but
uncompromising in pursuit of driving fun.

At first glance, you wouldn’t recognise the test car as a hybrid
model. And that’s not because of the camouflage foil used. The
charging socket for the high-voltage battery is discreetly integrated
in the left Side Scuttle. Everything also looks familiar in the
cockpit. The start/stop button in the centre of the dashboard glows
yellow instead of red. As usual, you simply press the button to start
the car – this vehicle, however, remains silent as the hybrid model
always starts in electric mode. The rpm counter in the instrument
cluster on the steering column has been replaced with a power display.
Keeping a close eye on this display is particularly worthwhile for the
first few kilometres as it informs the driver about the electric
motor’s power reserves before the combustion engine fires up. When
exactly the combustion engine starts varies depending upon on the
vehicle’s speed and the intensity with which the driver operate the
accelerator pedal.

“After a short time, the driver gets a feel for this”, promises
Wolf. And this new driving experience promises a lot of driving fun.
The hybrid MINI makes full use of the electric motor’s entire torque,
which is available right from standstill, allowing for catapult-like
acceleration. Even after leaving the slower pace of the city, this
vehicle maintains its zero-tailpipe emissions at motorway speeds. The
high-voltage battery under the rear seats provides power for
long-lasting electric driving. AUTO eDRIVE standard mode permits
speeds of up to 80 km/h, whilst in MAX eDRIVE mode speeds of up to 125
km/h are possible. For Mackensen this is a question of character: “In
a hybrid MINI model, driving electrically must also be an exhilarating
experience. This means that entirely electric driving is not limited
to speeds of 30 or 40 km/h, but to speeds well beyond city traffic pace."

Testing the vehicle himself, Mackensen puts the car through its
paces and demonstrates that you need to step on the accelerator peddle
very firmly indeed to activate the second power source. Then things
really start happening. With the combined output of both drives, the
first MINI hybrid vehicle demonstrates unparalleled acceleration
performance when compared with its combustion-only siblings.

However, MINI’s go-kart driving characteristics consists of more
than just fast acceleration. Above all, this hybrid MINI has to prove
how precisely it handles when taking bends on the most exciting,
twisting roads. This is where MINI’s plug-in hybrid concept plays its
next trump card. “As far as the chassis and suspension are concerned,
nothing changes from the conventionally driven model variants”, says
Wolf, “and the set-up benefits a lot from the hybrid concept”. Thanks
to the eDrive components, which are positioned very low down at the
rear, the car’s centre of gravity is lowered and the weight is evenly
balanced between the front and rear axle – ideal for achieving an even
higher level of legendary MINI agility.

The Hybrid concept provides yet another benefit: the electric
motor transmits its power to the rear wheels, the combustion engine to
the front wheels. Since the intelligent energy management is linked to
the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), traction and drive stability are
optimised via the drive system. “As soon as there is any risk of drive
slip, the second drive unit is activated to provide additional
traction when starting off or ensuring a high level of steering
precision when cornering”, explains Wolf.

Intelligent energy management offers a further opportunity for
both power sources to work together effectively. Driving on the
motorway, Mackensen activates a third mode with the eDrive toggle
switch: SAVE BATTERY. In this mode, the combustion engine powers the
car whilst at the same time, the high voltage battery can retain
charge at a constant level or indeed increase charge via a generator.
Extended driving in SAVE BATTERY mode enables enough power generation
for purely electric driving later.

After driving in SAVE BATTERY mode, the MINI drives back into
town in silence at the end of the test drive. The status display in
the cockpit reminds the driver to recharge the battery via wallbox or
power socket. Refuelling is not necessary yet because the MINI plug-in
hybrid model merely took a small sip from the fuel tank. Yet another
new dimension of MINIMALISM.

For further details on official fuel consumption figures,
official specific CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars,
please refer to the "Manual on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions
and power consumption of new cars”, available at all sales outlets,
from Deutschen Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1,
73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at
http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html.
Manual CO2 (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

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CO2 emission information.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the guideline "Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de.

Further News for: MINI

Related Video Content.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the guideline "Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de.